JB & Evonne Wernlund have two children at Rose Park Elementary and moved to Holland in the last several years for JB’s work as a pastor at Harderwyk Church. They have quickly plugged into the HC community, and we are grateful for their presence! They had a few things to say about their experience at Holland Christian as a family:
We chose Holland Christian when we moved to Holland already having made the decision beforehand for Christian education for our kids. We want our kids to have a solid foundation of faith and biblical knowledge, and we value the kind of intention HC offers to students’ faith formation and character. When we did our school visit, the teachers and staff were all very warm and engaged with our kids. Our kids very quickly felt at home.
The Wernlunds said they found plenty of opportunities to volunteer in their kids’ classrooms and school: We have been able to volunteer for Christmas parties and help 3rd graders build their tetrahedron projects. Evonne volunteers in the library on Mondays and has gotten to know many of the staff and students. As a pastor I have also been able to lead a few chapels which is a blast as well. There have been other opportunities to connect including homecoming, the ice cream social, and roller skating party that allow you to get to know some folks. (Although those events really cater to the extroverts or to connecting with folks you already know.) We have gotten to know our kids’ classmates and their families pretty well and have hung out outside of school which has been fun. This is especially true for preK and junior kindergarten where you see each other at pick up and drop off every day. We found that the best way to get to know folks is to take the plunge into volunteering—to make an effort.
Also, the staff and faculty have been fantastic. Our teachers love the kids and invest in them. It is fantastic and fun to just stop in and say hi.
One way that we have seen our children grow spiritually is through the Lord’s Prayer: Last summer our church began a Lord’s Prayer series and right around that time we found out Bryson had just begun to learn the Lord’s prayer at school. So we started using that to end our devotions after dinner—something we would not have initiated on our own came home with him from school. We want to instill faith. We do our part and try our best to instill these things, but the school also initiates faith development as well. There are other examples of this I am sure.
When asked, the Wernlunds chose the word “family” to describe their experience at Holland Christian Schools: I feel like FAMILY fits. It’s a place where our kids are loved and supported and encouraged on their academic and faith journey. They are treated and valued as a whole person. And this also includes when they are off track—there will be some correction along the way and transparency with parents. We know and trust our kids’ teachers. We know they have our kids’ best interests in mind, even when they are navigating some difficult things.
The Wernlunds would encourage others to consider enrolling their kids into Holland Christian as well: First, we would encourage others because we want them to be in the same school as our kids! Certainly, the academics are excellent (I mean I assume—since it is not my area of specialty). But for us, who our kids are becoming is far more important than their grades or academic excellence. When we have parent-teacher conferences, I get to hear those stories about my kids, of the times when they embrace and care for other kids. I’m grateful my kids are affirmed and recognized for those areas of personal, spiritual growth at Holland Christian Schools.
